The coach is pulling out all the stops to pull the Devils out of their nosedive.

Before the start of this weekend’s crucial home-and-home with the league-leading Red Wings, Larry Robinson revamped his designated team hierarchy, at a time when the team was already unsettled by talk of a trade for Vincent Lecavalier.

Robinson removed the alternate captain’s “A” from the jersey of Jason Arnott and pasted it upon upcoming unrestricted free agent Bobby Holik.

“We’re just switching it around,” Robinson said. “I wanted someone who was going to be vocal for me in the dressing room.

“It doesn’t change anything as far as Arnie goes. But I need Bobby’s leadership in there. That’s the reason I did it.”

The Devils have switched the “A”s before. Ken Daneyko and Scott Niedermayer have both spent long stretches wearing the “A”; now it’s Holik and Randy McKay serving as alternates to captain Scott Stevens.

Immediate results did not register in the standings, although the Devils seemed somewhat improved in Friday’s 4-2 loss in Detroit.

Only Florida and Atlanta had fewer points in the Eastern Conference than the defending Eastern Conference champs had entering last night’s return match against the Red Wings at the Meadowlands.

The Devils had won only once (1-5-2-1) in 10 games, and they were expecting GM Lou Lamoriello to pull the trigger on a deal for Tampa’s Lecavalier.

Arnott himself was mentioned as the possible trade cost for Lecavalier, with Holik and or Scott Gomez being the other alternatives.

Arnott, who became an alternate captain during the 1999-2000 season, admitted his feelings were hurt “a little” by Robinson’s decision.

“But you have to do what’s best for the team,” Arnott said. “If it’s flipping the ‘A’s around … It’s not a big deal.”

Arnott said that Robinson delivered the message himself.

“He just said he wanted to change it up a bit,” Arnott said. “If it geets other guys going, that’s what it’s for.

“It doesn’t mean it stops my leadership.”

Holik had long been kidded by teammates that an “A” and $5 million a year would make him change his mind and re-sign with New Jersey. That’s not the case, but he was pleased by Robinson’s move, the more surprising because of his outspoken refusal to pass up free agency to remain with the Devils.

“I accept it. It’s an honor,” said Holik, who often served as an alternate alternate during times of injury. “You don’t turn down these types of things. I don’t need to know why he did it.”

The coach can’t make the trades that are necessary. He is doing what he can, shuffling lines, rearranging his team hierarchy.

Daneyko was benched in the third after taking a bad penalty … The Devils’ two-goal output marked fourth time in this 10-game stretch the team scored more than once … Colin White’s goal ended a drought of 103 games … Devils play host to Tampa Tuesday and visit Montreal Wednesday.